West Brom striker Shane Long has urged his team-mates to develop a ruthless streak after seeing a famous victory slip from their grasp.

The Baggies led Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 through the Republic of Ireland frontman's 67th-minute strike at the Hawthorns on Saturday. However City, who had England midfielder James Milner dismissed after just 23 minutes, levelled and then snatched victory with a late double from substitute Edin Dzeko.

Long told the club's official website, www.wba.co.uk: "The crowd were getting behind us and we really felt like we could win the game. That is the confidence we have in the squad at the moment."

He added: "But at the same time, we have probably got to learn from these situations."

The late defeat against City came three weeks after Steve Clarke's men had been denied a derby victory at Aston Villa by Darren Bent's 80th-minute equaliser

"We probably should have won at Villa and didn't see it out, and it was the same on Saturday," Long said.

"But at least we lost in the right way, trying to win the game and taking the game to them.

"There aren't many teams that will take points off Manchester City this season."